Glycosidic residues involved in human sperm-zona pellucida binding in vitro

Glycosidic residues of the mammalian zona pellucida (ZP) are known to be involved in sperm binding, suggesting the presence of complementary carbohydrate binding sites on spermatozoa. However, in previous studies, in which sperm suspensions were incubated with monosaccharides, no inhibitory effect w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular human reproduction 1997-05, Vol.3 (5), p.399-404
Main Authors: Miranda, P V, Gonzalez-Echeverría, F, Marín-Briggiler, C I, Brandelli, A, Blaquier, J A, Tezón, J G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Binding Sites
Female
Glycoconjugates - chemistry
Glycoconjugates - physiology
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Male
Monosaccharides - metabolism
Monosaccharides - pharmacology
Sperm Capacitation
Sperm-Ovum Interactions - drug effects
Sperm-Ovum Interactions - physiology
Spermatozoa - drug effects
Spermatozoa - physiology
Zona Pellucida - chemistry
Zona Pellucida - physiology
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Summary:Glycosidic residues of the mammalian zona pellucida (ZP) are known to be involved in sperm binding, suggesting the presence of complementary carbohydrate binding sites on spermatozoa. However, in previous studies, in which sperm suspensions were incubated with monosaccharides, no inhibitory effect was observed. Results of studies in which sperm were treated shortly after swim-up suggest that the use of non-capacitated cells may explain the apparently conflicting results. In the present report, we studied the effect of preincubation of capacitated spermatozoa with different monosaccharides on their ability to bind to ZP. After 5 h under capacitating conditions, spermatozoa were incubated in medium with or without a monosaccharide, resuspended in fresh medium and used for hemizona (HZ) binding assay. When ZH were incubated with spermatozoa treated with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-mannose, D-fucose, L-fucose or D-galactose, a significant decrease in the number of spermatozoa bound was observed (level of inhibition: 62, 58, 82, 68 and 48% respectively) while treatment of spermatozoa with D-glucose produced no inhibition. Sugar treatment neither altered sperm motility nor the rate of acrosome reaction. These results suggest that N-acetylglucosamine, mannose, fucose and galactose residues are involved in human sperm-zona pellucida binding in vitro.
ISSN:1360-9947
DOI:10.1093/molehr/3.5.399